Montana Church Stands Behind Pastor Arrested for Alleged DUI Hours after He Threatened to Disrupt the SBC Annual Meeting

Fellowship Baptist Church in Sidney, Montana, said it stands behind its pastor, who was arrested on a driving under the influence charge, and will not accept his resignation.

A report from the Sidney Police Department cited by Sidney Herald said Hall, 40, who has been a fierce critic of the Southern Baptist Convention and high profile church leaders through his now defunct website Pulpit & Pen and more recently, Protestia, was arrested on May 11 at approximately 11 p.m. on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon and multiple traffic violations while driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs.

His arrest came just hours after he threatened to “control the mics” and offer strong rebuke at the upcoming Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting to be held in Anaheim, California, next month.

“Dear #SBC2022, me and my boys will control the mics, and rebuke is on the agenda. My attorney will be with me in person and any attempt to silence us will swiftly [be] handled with immediate litigation,” Hall tweeted.

Police said in an officer's report that when they approached Hall, he spoke slowly, his eyes were watery, closed slowly and deliberately, and his speech was slurred and mumbled. He also stumbled, displayed poor balance and performed poorly on a field sobriety test. No alcohol, however, was found in his system when a blood alcohol test was administered.

Hall, who is now scheduled to appear in the Sidney City Court on June 6 at 9 a.m., also had a Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Shield handgun which was found under his coat in an inside-the-waistband holster during his arrest, the report added.